HC tells BSES employees to protest 500 metres away from office

New Delhi, June 19 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Monday restrained contractual employees of BSES Rajdhani Pvt Ltd from holding any dharna, demonstration or picketing within a radius of 500 metres of its offices.

Justice Mukta Gupta also restrained Delhi Vidyut Board Employees Union from obstructing activities of the officers of the BSES and causing damages to its property.

The court’s order came on the plea of BSES apprehending disruption of power supply owing to demonstrations or sabotage by union members who are working on contract with the discom.

“The plaintiff (BSES) has made out a prima facie case in its favour and in case temporary injunction is not granted, the plaintiff would suffer an irreparable loss,” said the court.

“Consequently, the defendants (workers union), its members, officers, agents, employees affiliates etc. are restrained from holding any gate meetings, demonstration, dharna, picketing within a radius of 500 meters of any of the officers, complaint centres, working stations, sub-stations, stores etc. of the plaintiff company and are also restrained from disrupting/ obstructing activities of the officers of the plaintiff or causing damages to its property of the plaintiff company situated in any part of Delhi till the next date of hearing,” said its order.

The BSES told the court that recently power supply in various parts of south, central and west Delhi were hit, with people experiencing blackouts for several hours, due to alleged sabotage by the striking contractual workers of the discom, while seeking an order restraining them from interfering with the functioning of the discom in any manner.

Issuing notice to the workers union, the court sought its response by July 20.